Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted.I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!

I find this latest X Factor US rumor from the Daily Mirror hard to believe.

Same here, MJ – and with the Daily Mirror the only source, harder still. They must be having a slow newsday too. Difference is – they make things up. Logic says Simon may try for at least one American judge on a US show – but logic also says Will Smith has a lucrative career – and judging a scripted entertainment show? Just don’t buy it.
IMO. Of Course.

yaddabing

lol, ok. two of his last three films grossed over half a billion dollars worldwide each, so the next obvious career move is judge X Factor. I mean anyway, when we think of Will Smith we think of a thriving music career.

If this is true though..the only thing I can think of is WHY??

steph6449

Hard to imagine, unless it is one of those things where maybe Will is a fan of the UK show and just doing it on a whim.

Trina

Too good to be true IMO. No way is Will’s movie career in a slump, he’s still very much a huuge superstar. However by some miracle its true well screw you Simon for actually making me watch this damn show. <3 Will Smith. And if its true holy crap I'd love to know what he's getting paid.

fuzzywuzzy

I find it really hard to believe too. Has it been confirmed that Cheryl Cole is a judge on the U.S. X-Factor? I thought that was still a rumor.

Incipit

Has it been confirmed that Cheryl Cole is a judge on the U.S. X-Factor?

According to the same ‘source’…The Daily Mirror – nope – unconfirmed. Which they used to run a story about Simon being pithed off and threatening to pull the show if he can’t have Cheryl.

ETA: now that I’ve quit lolling, I might offer a scenario. I’ve heard that Will and Jada have a deal that when one of them is doing a movie that the other one must be home with the kiddies. Is Jada working on something during that time? Maybe it’s a one season deal and Cowell offered to let him film in his bathrobe at home? On the other hand….hahahahahaha

Valentin432

I have no confidence whatsoever on the UK tabloids, but if it’s true how much the panel of judges alone would make?
I mean Cowell was paid 50 million per year for his last stint on idol right? He could be paid even more with the x factor since he’s also an executive producer. I can’t see Will Smith being payed less than that too.

Yeah, probably just a false rumor.

koshka

All I can think is that it is a way to get their little girl more deeply engrained into the music industry.

girlygirl

Considering they are wrong about Cheryl Cole being confirmed as a judge, hard to take Daily Mirror as a credible source on Will Smith. The guy is an A list actor with a booming career (and 2 kids who can support him when his career does start to tail off :) ) — no reason whatsoever for him to want to be an X-factor judge

lucy

Well, planting silly rumors is an easy way to get advance buzz about your show.

Kaykohl

Will becoming a judge may be more about the experience than about the need. It would be something interesting to be involved in. I know some people have turned it down, but others would love to do it. Will is funny and quick on his feet. I have a feeling he’d enjoy doing something like this.

Incipit

Well, planting silly rumors is an easy way to get advance buzz about your show.

Yeah, just ask Nigel ;)

And originating/printing silly rumors is an easy way to get circulation for your gossip rag, They help each other.

Neither the Daily Mirror nor Simon are so heavy on the integrity index to be above that. The Daily Mirror has been the XFactor’s sorta sleazy PR Machine in the UK. Their version of TMZ here, which has been often found in bed with AI – just not so overtly.

Wonder which rag XFactor will use on this side of the Atlantic? I’m sure we’ll find out.

webster

But I will dutifully report it, as I do all the internet goss.

LOL. Sorry, MJ, but this cracked me up. I can’t imagine having to Wade through it all. next up: baby space aliens to win idol and join the cast of glee. Soon it will all be settled and we can go back to the relative normalcy of fan wars.

abbysee

All I can think is that it is a way to get their little girl more deeply engrained into the music industry.

Truthfully they don’t need xfactor to do that. That kid isn’t exactly a talentless hack that you need to forcefeed to the masses. Willow Smith is a force to be reckoned with, Will doesn’t need Simon Cowell for that in the least.

larc

What does Will Smith know about judging and mentoring singers? I realize he has put out some rap records, but that’s not singing.

Duke

I have 8 words to say to this: wild wild west gettin’ jiggy wit it switch

that is all

abbysee

What does Will Smith know about judging and mentoring singers? I realize he has put out some rap records, but that’s not singing.

About as much as Piers Morgan, Randy Jackson, Simon Cowell, Ellen Degeneres, and so on and so forth. They don’t sing either, do they?

ETA: Rap is music too, imho.

chessguy99

I think it is possible. Will Smith has been cutting back on his movie acting. Its entirely possible he may want the X-Factor gig for a steady project, while he enjoys watching the progress of his children. As far as the music goes, his daughter Willow is signed with Roc Nation. I’m sure if he gets stuck he can give Jay-Z a call.

jammasta

This rumor is quite old >_>. I remember a while back, one of the Idol headlines was that Will Smith and I believe Nicole Scherzinger were the other two judges for X-Factor.

I don’t believe larc meant to say “rap isn’t music” by saying “rap isn’t singing”. It is pretty odd to call it singing, and I’m not the biggest fan of it nowadays, but it’s definitely music (How is it not music, by definition? I hate when people say it isn’t music, but that’s another story >_>).

Yvonne13

Simon is trying to compete with Idol’s rumor mill of the day as to who was getting the judging spots for Season 10. I expect the XFactor rumors to persist right up to broadcast time. I don’t think Mr. Cowell would have it any other way. I doubt Will Smith is on the short list. Nicole…who knows. What else is she up to these days? Maybe she needs a job since the DWTS 15 minutes is over.

cookcricket

Yeah, this definitely isn’t the first time we’ve heard this. If it turns out to be true, it may be my only reason to tune in.

karenc

I think this is as unlikely as a movie actress/pop singer like Jennifer Lopez becoming a judge on AI……

It could be possible, maybe if he wants to get back into something involving music, and I actually think he might be good. I’m sure he is involved in his daughter’s album, so maybe he does want to get into the production and mentoring side of the music business.

Grammie Kari

If The Sing Off comes back, possibly Nicole will judge again? Will Smith would be worth watching.

I consider Hip Hop as a form of dance (music); Rap music is not singing, IMO. I really don’t like it.

hcpoirot

With Will Smith as her father, Willow didnot need X-Factor to jum start her music career. So this is 1000000% bogus.